I-70 over Ward Road Bridge Replacement

Weekly Traffic Impacts - May 5 to May 11

Please be advised of the following travel alert, traffic impacts, restrictions and planned work for next week for the I-70 over Ward Road Bridge Replacement project in Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County.  

Reminder - Travel Alert

Friday, May 3 to Monday, May 6 - continuous closure - Ward Road/CO 72 (Exit 266) on ramp to westbound I-70 & right lane closure 

• Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 3 and lasting until 6 a.m. on Monday, May 6, the Ward Road on ramp to westbound I-70 will be fully closed
• This extended closure was originally scheduled for April 26-29 but was postponed due to weather
• The recommended detour route is: south on Ward Rd to W. 44th Ave., south on Youngfield St, and west to W. 40th Ave. to Clear Creek Drive to enter westbound I-70 at Exit 264 (Clear Creek Dr/32nd Ave) - please refer to the map below for details
• The detour will add approximately 2 miles and 5 minutes to travel times
• Other detour routes do exist 
• Motorists can expect delays
• A single right lane closure on westbound I-70 will also be taken during this extended weekend closure period
• Signs, message boards and construction devices will be present to alert the public to the closures and alternate routes
• No impacts to the westbound I-70 off ramp at Ward Road will exist during this extended closure

Work includes removing asphalt and concrete, preparing subgrade, fast track paving on mainline westbound I-70, and SMA paving the bridge surface. 

Recommended detour route highlighted in blue during the full extended closure of the Ward Road on ramp to westbound I-70.

Ongoing Impacts & Planned Work

Friday, May 3 to Monday, May 6 - westbound I-70 at Ward Road - full closure on ramp & right lane
 
Monday, May 6 to Friday, May 10 - I-70 at Ward Road - no planned daytime closures - work performed behind barrier 

• Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 3 and lasting until 6 a.m. on Monday, May 6, the Ward Road on ramp to westbound I-70 will be fully closed (see Travel Alert above)
• The recommended detour route is: south on Ward Rd to W. 44th Ave., south on Youngfield St, and west to W. 40th Ave. to Clear Creek Drive to enter westbound I-70 at Exit 264 (Clear Creek Dr/32nd Ave) - please refer to the map below for details
• The detour will add approximately 2 miles and 5 minutes to travel times
• Other detour routes do exist 
• Motorists can expect delays
• A single right lane closure on westbound I-70 will also be taken during this extended weekend closure period
• After this extended period, regular work will be performed during daytime hours behind barrier, with no planned closures
• Regular daytime hours are 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday
• Signs, message boards and construction devices will be present to alert the public to the closures and alternate routes
• Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change

Work during the extended closure includes removing asphalt and concrete, preparing subgrade, fast track paving on mainline westbound I-70, and SMA paving the bridge surface. Other work after the closure includes installing guardrail, sawing and sealing bridge joints, installing embankment protector, adding road base for curb, and cleaning up westbound I-70. 

Friday, May 3 to Friday, May 10 - Ward Road/CO 72 under I-70 - periodic lane closures 

• Periodic single lane closures switching to double lane closures may exist in both directions of Ward Road under I-70 during this period
• The closures will be taken from 7 p.m. on Friday, May 3 to 6 a.m. on Monday, May 6, only as needed and during daytime hours (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) Monday to Friday
• The closure limits are confined to MP 0 (44th Ave) to MP .25 (just east of the I-70 interchange) 
• Flaggers will be present to manage traffic flows
• Signs, message boards and construction devices are in place alerting motorists and pedestrians to the work zone and closures
• Sidewalk access is limited and caution is advised
• Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change

Periodic lane closures will be taken for access to westbound I-70. Work during the extended ramp closure includes removing asphalt and concrete, preparing subgrade, fast track paving on mainline westbound I-70, and SMA paving the bridge surface. Other work after the closure includes installing guardrail, sawing and sealing bridge joints, installing embankment protector, adding road base for curb, and cleaning up westbound I-70. 

General Travel Impacts, Schedule & Scope of Work

• The project began in February 2023 with anticipated full completion by late 2024
• Periodic overnight lane and ramp closures will be taken in both directions of I-70 at Ward Road (Exit 266) Sunday to Thursday, during certain work activities
• Daytime single lane closures switching to double lane closures will exist in both directions of Ward Road/CO 72 under I-70 Monday to Friday for access to the work zone
• These weekday closures will be in place from 7 a.m. to approx. 6 p.m.
• Some weekend work is expected, with lane closures taken in both directions of Ward Road, as needed
• Ward Road/CO 72 under I-70 will be fully closed during safety critical bridge work, with detours in place
• During full closures of Ward Road or the westbound I-70 on-ramp, motorists will be detoured to Youngfield Ave to access Exit 264 (Clear Creek Drive/32nd Ave) or the Frontage Road to access I-70 via Kipling St 
• This state funded project is part of CDOT’s 10-Year Plan to replace two aging bridges on I-70 over Ward Road with a single structure
• This new structure is being built to meet today's standards to support increased traffic on the I-70 corridor

Nearby Project Impacts

Harlan St Bridge Replacement & Interchange Improvement project 

• Impacts include full periodic closures of the Harlan St. interchange, the Exit 270 on and off ramps to westbound I-70, and other lane and road closures within the project's limits
• Motorists will be detoured to Wadsworth Blvd to bypass ramp closures
• This project has an estimated completion date of February 2025